Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

End of Universal Credit Uplift: Household Budgets

Monday 8 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Paul Blomfield questioned the Government's assessment of the impact of ending the universal credit uplift on household budgets.
  • The Government stated that the 20 uplift was a temporary measure to address the economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic.
  • Paul Blomfield highlighted that nearly 9,000 Sheffield households, including 4,500 children, have collectively lost around 10 million due to the end of the universal credit uplift.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Paul Blomfield Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from the government's decision to end the £20 universal credit uplift, affecting household budgets across the UK.

Question

What assessment she has made of the potential effect of ending the universal credit uplift on household budgets?

Answer from David Rutley

The Government have always been clear that the £20 uplift was a temporary measure to support households affected by the economic shock of covid-19. Now that the economy has reopened, the Government are giving nearly 2 million working households an increase, on average, of £1,000 per year, thanks to the reduction in the universal credit taper rate from 63% to 55% and a £500 increase in the work allowance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The assessment of potential effects on household budgets was not directly addressed with specific figures or analysis.

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Q2 Paul Blomfield Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Sheffield households have lost £10 million as a result of the Government's decision to end the universal credit uplift, and there is a backlog in work capability assessments.

Question

More than 9,000 Sheffield households, including 4,500 children, have together lost around £10 million as a result of the Government's decision. There are also deep problems caused by a backlog of work capability assessments. What is being done to clear the backlog and ensure that people with disabilities get the benefits they deserve?

Answer from David Rutley

I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are working flat out to ensure that people get their entitlement as speedily as possible, which is certainly the case for the vast majority of people. We saw during the pandemic that universal credit was particularly agile in responding to a huge number of people—hundreds of thousands—who needed support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The backlog issue and ensuring benefits for disabled individuals were not addressed with specific actions or timelines.

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Q3 Richard Holden Con Basildon and Billericay
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The UK is experiencing a record high of 1.1 million job vacancies.

Question

We have a record 1.1 million vacancies, and we are cutting the taper rate and raising the income threshold; how many families in North West Durham and throughout the country will benefit?

Answer from David Rutley

We are going to see many people—

Not addressed: The question about family benefits was not addressed; instead, an incomplete response was given.

How: Incomplete Response

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